I forgot to include this -- you linked to Vicky Osterweil's (heinous) book trying to justify rioting. She [sic] was interviewed by NPR last summer, and the interview was rightly slammed and NPR had to backtrack:
One Author's Controversial View: 'In Defense Of Looting'
(When I think of how I was treated, even though I *wasn't* an NPR employee when I became involved in the Occupy movement, and how they then publish shit like this, it really pisses me off.)
Please excuse the following babble, which is an untested thought that came up while reading it...
Perhaps there is a layer of legitimacy that forms around the power of an educated class in particular, which confers an air of justice to unlawful, violent or disruptive acts like the BLM riots. It's the support of 'bien pensants' for a cause that renders a riot justifiable or not.
Can you imagine any riots that emerge from the Canadian 'Freedom Convoy' being seen as justified in the way that destroying small businesses and burning buildings with people inside was after Portland?
I still remember scenes of extraordinary violence in the London Poll Tax riots and thinking it was great. I'm not so sure, these days, that thrusting large objects through the windows of moving police cars was justified.
This may make no sense, but I know what I'm reaching for - haha!
Thank your for another excellent essay, Thomas.
Thanks Lisa!
I forgot to include this -- you linked to Vicky Osterweil's (heinous) book trying to justify rioting. She [sic] was interviewed by NPR last summer, and the interview was rightly slammed and NPR had to backtrack:
One Author's Controversial View: 'In Defense Of Looting'
https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2020/08/27/906642178/one-authors-argument-in-defense-of-looting
(When I think of how I was treated, even though I *wasn't* an NPR employee when I became involved in the Occupy movement, and how they then publish shit like this, it really pisses me off.)
You bring up interesting points. I like the matrix table you have at the beginning, does a great job outlaying your arguments here.
Such an interesting piece 🤔
Please excuse the following babble, which is an untested thought that came up while reading it...
Perhaps there is a layer of legitimacy that forms around the power of an educated class in particular, which confers an air of justice to unlawful, violent or disruptive acts like the BLM riots. It's the support of 'bien pensants' for a cause that renders a riot justifiable or not.
Can you imagine any riots that emerge from the Canadian 'Freedom Convoy' being seen as justified in the way that destroying small businesses and burning buildings with people inside was after Portland?
I still remember scenes of extraordinary violence in the London Poll Tax riots and thinking it was great. I'm not so sure, these days, that thrusting large objects through the windows of moving police cars was justified.
This may make no sense, but I know what I'm reaching for - haha!